Electronic transmission range selection system including a bezel with locating features

ABSTRACT

A transmission shifter assembly includes a shifter and a shifter bezel. The shifter includes a shifter body and a shifter handle movably coupled to the shifter body. The shifter bezel includes a bezel body and defines a handle opening extending through the bezel body. The handle opening is sized to partially receive the shifter handle. The shifter handle extends through the handle opening. The transmission shifter assembly further includes a plurality of locating features, such as shock absorbers, interconnecting the shifter bezel and the shifter body in order to align the shifter bezel relative to the shifter.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electronic transmission rangeselection (ETRS) system including a bezel with locating features.

BACKGROUND

Motor vehicles include a power plant (e.g., engine or electric motor)capable of producing driving power and a transmission for transferringthe driving power to a driveline for driving a set of wheels at selectedgear ratios. Automatic transmissions shift automatically to theappropriate gear ratio based on various vehicle operating conditionsincluding speed and torque. Typically, a desired transmission operatingmode is selected by the vehicle operator. The modes provided by mostautomatic transmissions generally include Park, Neutral, Reverse andDrive. In Drive, the automatic transmission automatically shifts betweenthree or more different forward gear ratios based on the vehicleoperating conditions.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a transmission shifter assemblyincluding a shifter and a shifter bezel partially surrounding theshifter. The bezel has locating features in order to properly locate andalign the bezel relative to the shifter within a 0.5 millimetersdimensional tolerance. In certain embodiments, the shifter includes ashifter body and a shifter handle movably coupled to the shifter body.The shifter bezel includes a bezel body and defines a handle openingextending through the bezel body. The handle opening is sized topartially receive the shifter handle. The shifter handle extends throughthe handle opening. The transmission shifter assembly further includes aplurality of locating features, such as shock absorbers, interconnectingthe shifter bezel and the shifter body in order to align the shifterbezel relative to the shifter.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages ofthe present teachings are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best modes for carrying out the teachings when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle including an ETRSsystem.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagrammatic illustration of a partial powertrainof the vehicle shown in FIG. 1, wherein the ETRS system includes an ETRSshifter assembly.

FIG. 3 is a schematic, perspective side view of the ETRS shifterassembly shown in FIG. 2 and console trim plates.

FIG. 4 is a schematic, perspective rear view of one of the console trimplates and the ETRS shifter assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic, cross-sectional view showing the locatingfeatures of the console trim plate and the ETRS shifter assembly shownin FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic, perspective, cross-sectional view showing shockabsorbers coupled between a shifter bezel and a shifter body of the ETRSshifter assembly shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a schematic, perspective view of the console trim plates andthe shifter bezel shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a schematic, perspective side view of the shifter bezel shownin FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a schematic, perspective front view of the shifter bezel shownin FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures wherein like reference numbers represent likecharacters, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle 8 including avehicle body 11 and wheels 13 operatively coupled to the vehicle body11. Each wheel 13 is operatively coupled to a tire 15. The tires 15 aretherefore operatively coupled to the vehicle body 11 through the wheels13. The vehicle body 11 defines a passenger compartment 19 and includesdoors 17 to provide access to the passenger compartment 19. In additionto the doors 17, the vehicle 8 includes a powertrain 10 for propellingthe vehicle 8.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a portion of the powertrain 10. Thepowertrain 10 includes an engine 12, such as an internal combustionengine, and an automatic transmission 14 operatively coupled to theengine 12. The engine 12 produces driving torque that is transferredthrough the transmission 14 at varying gear ratios to drive at least onepair of wheels 13 (FIG. 1). The transmission 14 is coupled to thevehicle body 11 (FIG. 1) and includes a system housing 34 for supportingvarious components. A transmission shifter assembly 16 is disposedinside the passenger compartment 19 (FIG. 1) and enables a vehicleoperator to select various transmission range positions. Thetransmission shifter assembly 16 can include a lever, switches, dials,push buttons or any other type of input interface. The normaltransmission range positions, including Park, Reverse, Neutral, andDrive (PRND) are selectable, as well as manual downshifts and tap-up,tap-down capabilities via actuation of the transmission shifter assembly16. In operation, the transmission shifter assembly 16 sends a controlsignal to a transmission control module (TCM) 18 based on the selectedoperating range of the transmission 14. In the present disclosure, thetransmission shifter assembly 16 may also be referred to as the ETRSshifter assembly.

The TCM 18 signals an ETRS system 20 to shift the transmission 14 to thecorresponding range in response to the control signal. The powertrain 10includes an engine control module (ECM) 33 capable of receiving inputsfrom and send control signals to the engine 12. Additionally, the ECM 33interfaces with the ETRS system 20 and the TCM 18 to determine theoperational range of the transmission 14.

With reference to FIGS. 3-9, the transmission shifter assembly 16includes a shifter body 102 and a shifter handle 104 movably coupled tothe shift body 102. The shifter handle 104 may be configured as ashifter lever 106 and, regardless of its specific configuration, canmove with respect to shifter body 102 in order to allow the vehicleoperator to select various transmission range positions (e.g., Park,Neutral, Reverse or Drive positions). Therefore, the shifter handle 104is movably coupled to the shifter body 102. The shifter body 104 can bereferred to as the shifter retainer because it supports and retains theshifter handle 106.

The transmission shifter assembly 16 is disposed inside the passengercompartment 19 (FIG. 1) and is coupled to a console trim assembly 200.The console trim assembly 200 is also disposed inside the passengercompartment 19 (FIG. 1) and includes a plurality of console trim plates204. The transmission shifter assembly 16 further includes a shifterbezel 108 that is flushed with at least one of the console trim plates204. It is desirable to flush the shifter bezel 108 with at least one ofthe console trim plates 204 in order to enhance the aesthetic appeal ofthe passenger compartment 19 (FIG. 1) and facilitate manufacturing ofthe vehicle 8 (FIG. 1). To this end, the presently disclosedtransmission shifter assembly 16 includes locating features 110 in theshifter bezel 108 and the console trim plates 204 for locating andaligning the shifter bezel 108 relative to the console trim plates 204.As a result, the shifter bezel 108 can be properly aligned with theconsole trim plates 204 within a dimensional tolerance of about 0.5millimeters.

In the depicted embodiment, the locating features 110 include aplurality of shock absorbers 113 coupled between the shifter bezel 108and the shifter body 102. In the present disclosure, the term “shockabsorber” means a mechanical device designed to absorb and damp shockimpulses. Each shock absorber 113 is wholly or partly made of aresilient material, such as rubber, in order to minimize vibratorymotion in the shifter bezel 108 with respect to the console trim plates204, thereby helping align the shifter bezel 108 with the console trimplates 204 even when the transmission shifter assembly 16 experiencesvibrations.

The shifter bezel 108 includes a bezel body 112 and defines a handleopening 114 extending through the bezel body 112. The bezel body 112 maybe substantially planar such that it can be flushed with the consoletrim plates 204. The handle opening 114 is configured and sized toreceive the shifter handle 104. Therefore, the shifter handle 104extends through the bezel body 112 through the handle opening 114. Thesize of the handle opening 114 allows the shifter handle 104 to moverelative to the shifter body 102 and the bezel body 112. The shifterbezel 108 may further include an enclosure wall 109 protruding from thebezel body 112 and disposed around the handle opening 114.

The bezel body 112 includes a first lateral edge 116 and a secondlateral edge 118 opposite the first lateral edge 116. The bezel body 112further includes a front edge 120 interconnecting the first lateral edge116 and the second lateral edge 118. Moreover, the bezel body 112includes a rear edge 122 opposite the front edge 120. The rear edge 122interconnects the first lateral edge 116 and the second lateral edge118.

The shifter bezel 108 additionally includes a plurality of bezelextensions 124 protruding from the bezel body 112 toward the shifterbody 102. In the depicted embodiment, the shifter bezel 108 includesfour bezel extensions 124 for stabilizing the transmission shifterassembly 16 along the fore-aft direction, which is indicated by doublearrows A (FIG. 3), and the cross-car direction, which is indicated bydouble arrows C (FIG. 3). Two bezel extensions 124 are closer to therear edge 122 than to the front edge 120 of the bezel body 112. Twobezel extensions 124 are closer to the front edge 120 than to the rearedge 122 of the bezel body 112. Two bezel extensions 124 are closer tothe first lateral edge 116 than to the second lateral edge 118. Twobezel extensions 124 are closer to the second lateral edge 118 than tothe first lateral edge 116. The positions of the bezel extensions 124relative to the first lateral edge 116, the second lateral edge 118, thefront edge 120, and the rear edge 122, as described above, assist instabilizing the transmission shifter assembly 16 along the fore-aftdirection, which is indicated by double arrows A (FIG. 3), and thecross-car direction, which is indicated by double arrows C (FIG. 3).

Each bezel extension 124 includes at least one lateral wall 126 and atleast one support wall 128 directly connected to the lateral wall 126.The support wall 128 is configured to partly support one of the shockabsorbers 113. The lateral wall 126 and the support wall 128 jointlydefine an inner extension cavity 130 configured, shaped, and sized topartly receive one of the shock absorbers 113. Moreover, the lateralwall 126 may have a substantially U-shape to accommodate part of one ofthe shock absorbers 113. Each bezel extension 124 further defines anextension opening 132 extending through the support wall 128. Theextension opening 132 is in communication with the inner extensioncavity 130, thereby allowing one of the shock absorbers 113 to extendthrough the support wall 128. Accordingly, each extension opening 132leads to one of the inner extension cavities 130. The extension opening132 has a maximum cross-sectional dimension OD (e.g., diameter). Thesupport wall 128 is the part of the bezel extension 124 that is closestto the shifter body 102.

The shifter body 102 supports the shock absorbers 113. To do so the,shifter body 102 defines a plurality of inner body cavities 134 eachconfigured, shaped, and sized to partially receive one of the shockabsorbers 113. The shifter body 102 further includes a top body wall 136and defines a plurality of body openings 138 extending through the topbody wall 136. Each body opening 138 is in communication with one of theinner body cavities 134. Accordingly, each body opening 138 leads to oneof the inner body cavities 134, thereby allowing one of the shockabsorbers 113 to extend through the top body wall 136 via the bodyopening 138. The body opening 138 has a maximum cross-sectionaldimension BD (e.g., diameter).

The shock absorbers 113 interconnect the shifter body 102 and theshifter bezel 108 in order minimize vibratory motion in the shifterbezel 108, thereby maintaining the shifter bezel 108 substantiallyflushed with the console trim plates 204. Each shock absorber 113includes a first or upper disc 140, a second or lower disc 142, and abar 144 interconnecting the first disc 140 and the second disc 142. Thefirst disc 140 of the shock absorber 113 is disposed inside one of thebezel extensions 124 in order to secure the shock absorber 113 to theshifter bezel 108. Specifically, the first disc 140 of the shockabsorber 113 is disposed in one of the inner extension cavities 130. Themaximum cross-sectional dimension FD (e.g., diameter) of the first disc140 is larger than the maximum cross-sectional dimension OD (e.g.,diameter) of the extension opening 132. As such, the first disc 140 issecured inside the inner extension cavity 130 and cannot exit throughthe extension opening 132, while a portion of the bar 144 extendsthrough the extension opening 132.

Each second disc 142 is disposed inside the shifter body 102 in order tosecure the shock absorbers 113 to the shifter body 102. In particular,the second disc 142 of the shock absorber 113 is disposed in one of theinner body cavities 134 of the shifter body 102. The maximumcross-sectional dimension SD (e.g., diameter) of the second disc 142 islarger than the maximum cross-sectional dimension BD (e.g., diameter) ofthe body opening 138. As such, the second disc 142 is secured inside theinner body cavity 134 and cannot exit through the body opening 138,while a portion of the bar 144 extends through the body opening 138.

The bar 144 includes a first tapered portion 146, a second taperedportion 148, and a central bar portion 150 interconnecting the firsttapered portion 146 and the second tapered portion 148. In the presentdisclosure, the term “tapered portion” means a portion of the bar 144that has a continuously increasing (or decreasing) cross-sectionaldimension (e.g., diameter). Accordingly, the cross-sectional dimension(e.g., diameter) of the first tapered portion 146 increases in adirection toward the bezel body 112 until it reaches a maximumcross-sectional dimension TD (e.g., diameter). The cross-sectionaldimension (e.g., diameter) of the second tapered portion 146 increasesin a direction away from the bezel body 112 until it reaches a maximumcross-sectional dimension LD (e.g., diameter). The maximumcross-sectional dimension LD of the second tapered portion 146 isgreater than the maximum cross-sectional dimension BD (e.g., diameter)of the body opening 138 in order to securely couple the shock absorber113 to the shift body 102. The maximum cross-sectional dimension TD ofthe first tapered portion 146 is greater than the maximumcross-sectional dimension OD (e.g., diameter) of the extension opening132 in order to securely couple the shock absorber 113 to the shifterbezel 108.

As discussed above, the transmission shifter assembly 16 includeslocating features 110 in the shifter bezel 108. Thus, the locatingfeatures 110 include bezel locating features 152 that are part of theshifter bezel 108. In the depicted embodiment, the bezel locatingfeatures 152 include bezel wedges 154 coupled to the bezel body 112. Thebezel wedges 154 have a substantially V-shape and can be tuned,depending on the specific vehicle dimensions, in order to ensure properalignment of the shifter bezel 108 relative to the console trim plates204 along the fore-aft direction (which is indicated by double arrows A(FIG. 3)) and the cross-car direction (which is indicated by doublearrows C (FIG. 3)).

In the depicted embodiment, the bezel wedges 154 include a first bezelwedge 156 disposed along the first lateral edge 116 of the bezel body112 and a second bezel wedge 158 disposed along the second lateral edge118 of the bezel body 112. The first bezel wedge 156 and the secondbezel wedge 158 are coupled to the bezel body 112. For instance, asshown in FIG. 8, the first bezel wedge 156 and the second bezel wedge158 can protrude from the enclosure wall 109 toward the first lateraledge 116 and the second lateral edge 118, respectively. The bezel wedges154 further includes a third bezel wedge 160 disposed along the frontedge 120 of the bezel body 112 and a fourth bezel wedge 162 disposedalong the rear edge 122 of the bezel body 112. The third bezel wedge 160and the fourth bezel wedge 162 are coupled to the bezel body 112. Forexample, the third bezel wedge 160 and the fourth bezel wedge 162 can beattached directly to the front edge 120 and the rear edge 122,respectively. The arrangement of the bezel wedges 154, as describedabove, ensures proper alignment of the shifter bezel 108 relative to theconsole trim plates 204 along the fore-aft direction (which is indicatedby double arrows A (FIG. 3)) and the cross-car direction (which isindicated by double arrows C (FIG. 3)).

As shown in FIG. 4, hollow console wedges 206 extend from the consoletrim plates 204. One of the hollow console wedge 206 mates with thethird bezel wedge 160, and another hollow console wedge 206 mates withthe fourth bezel wedge 162 in order to properly align the shifter bezel108 with the console trim plates 204. Each hollow console wedge 206defines a console wedge cavity 208 configured, shaped, and sized toreceive the bezel wedges 154.

As shown in FIG. 7, solid console wedges 210 also extend from theconsole trim plates 204. Specifically, two spaced apart solid consolewedges 210 protrude from the console trim plates 204 and define asubstantially V-shaped cavity 212 between them. The substantiallyV-shaped cavity 212 is configured, shaped, and sized to receive thebezel wedges 154 (i.e., either the bezel wedge 156 or the second bezelwedge 158) in order to ensure proper alignment of the shifter bezel 108relative to the console trim plates 204 along the fore-aft direction(which is indicated by double arrows A (FIG. 3)) and the cross-cardirection (which is indicated by double arrows C (FIG. 3)). The solidconsole wedges 210 may be referred to as trim locating features.

As shown in FIG. 5, the solid console wedges 210 of the console trimassembly 200 can also be disposed in a hollow bezel wedge 166 of theshifter bezel 108 in order to align the console trim plate 204 with theshifter bezel 108. To do so, the console trim plate 204 and the solidconsole wedge 210 are jointly moved in a downward direction D toward theshifter bezel 108 until the solid console wedge 210 is disposed in abezel wedge cavity 168 defined by the hollow bezel wedge 166.

While the best modes for carrying out the teachings have been describedin detail, those familiar with the art to which this disclosure relateswill recognize various alternative designs and embodiments forpracticing the teachings within the scope of the appended claims. Thetransmission shifter assembly illustratively disclosed herein may besuitably practiced in the absence of any element which is notspecifically disclosed herein.

1. A transmission shifter assembly, comprising: a shifter including ashifter body and a shifter handle movably coupled to the shifter body; ashifter bezel including a bezel body and defining a handle openingextending through the bezel body, wherein the handle opening is sized topartially receive the shifter handle, and the shifter handle extendsthrough the handle opening; and a plurality of shock absorbersinterconnecting the shifter bezel and the shifter body in order to alignthe shifter bezel relative to the shifter.
 2. The transmission shifterassembly of claim 1, wherein the shifter bezel includes a plurality ofbezel locating features coupled to the bezel body in order to align thebezel relative to a console trim plate.
 3. The transmission shifterassembly of claim 2, wherein the bezel locating features include aplurality of bezel wedges coupled to the bezel body.
 4. The transmissionshifter assembly of claim 3, wherein the bezel body includes a firstlateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge,and the bezel wedges includes a first wedge disposed along the firstlateral edge and a second wedge disposed along the second lateral edge.5. The transmission shifter assembly of claim 4, wherein the bezel bodyincludes a front edge interconnecting the first lateral edge and thesecond lateral edge, the bezel body includes a rear edge opposite thefront edge, the rear edge interconnects the first lateral edge and thesecond lateral edge, and the bezel wedges includes a third wedgedisposed along the front edge and a fourth wedge disposed along the rearedge.
 6. The transmission shifter assembly of claim 1, wherein each ofthe shock absorbers includes a first disc, a second disc and a barinterconnecting the first disc and the second disc.
 7. The transmissionshifter assembly of claim 6, wherein the first disc of each of the shockabsorbers is coupled to the shifter bezel.
 8. The transmission shifterassembly of claim 7, wherein the second disc of each of the shockabsorbers is coupled to the shifter body.
 9. The transmission shifterassembly of claim 8, wherein the shifter body includes a plurality ofinner body cavities and a plurality of body openings, each of the bodyopenings leads to one of the inner body cavities, and the bar of each ofthe shock absorbers is disposed in one of the body openings.
 10. Thetransmission shifter assembly of claim 9, wherein the second disc ofeach of the shock absorbers is disposed in one of the inner bodycavities.
 11. The transmission shifter assembly of claim 10, wherein theshifter bezel includes a plurality of bezel extensions protruding fromthe bezel body toward the shifter body, each of the bezel extensionsdefines an inner extension cavity and an extension opening leading tothe inner extension cavity, and the bar of each of the shock absorbersis disposed in the extension opening.
 12. The transmission shifterassembly of claim 11, wherein the first disc is disposed in the innerextension cavity.
 13. The transmission shifter assembly of claim 1,wherein each of the shock absorbers is at least partly made of aresilient material in order to minimize vibratory motion in the shifterbezel.
 14. A vehicle, comprising: a console trim plate; a shifter bezelcoupled to the console trim plate; a shifter coupled to the shifterbezel, wherein the shifter includes a shifter body and a shifter handlemovably coupled to the shifter body; a plurality of shock absorbersinterconnecting the shifter bezel and the shifter in order to align theconsole trim plate with the shifter bezel.
 15. The vehicle of claim 14,wherein the shifter bezel includes a bezel body and a plurality of bezellocating features coupled to the bezel body, and the console trim plateincludes a plurality of trim locating features coupled to the bezellocating features.
 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the bezellocating features include a plurality of bezel wedges coupled to thebezel body.
 17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the bezel body includesa first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite the firstlateral edge, and the bezel wedges includes a first wedge disposed alongthe first lateral edge and a second wedge disposed along the secondlateral edge.
 18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the bezel bodyincludes a front edge interconnecting the first lateral edge and thesecond lateral edge, the bezel body includes a rear edge opposite thefront edge, the rear edge interconnects the first lateral edge and thesecond lateral edge, and the bezel wedges includes a third wedgeprotruding from the front edge and a fourth wedge protruding from therear edge.
 19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein each of the shockabsorbers includes a first disc, a second disc and a bar interconnectingthe first disc and the second disc.
 20. The vehicle of claim 19, whereinthe first disc of each of the shock absorbers is coupled to the shifterbezel.